I bought a used '06 MCS about two months ago. It has 40K miles and until yesterday, I thought I had made a good choice (rare for me). Yesterday morning it was cold and wet and for the first time I heard a sharp screech a couple of times when starting out in 1st gear. It hasn't done it since but checking around it seems that it is a common problem (thrust bearing) with '06 models and others. So my worst fear, that I would encounter expensive maintenance issues, seems to have already come to pass. I'm seriously down. What I would like advice about is, is this something that requires immediate attention?

 

naw, don't worry about it. just take it easy until it dries out

 

+1^

 

as I worry too much about it breaking and now I'll probably have to fix it in order to sell it. Sorta ironic......

 

Or you could just drive it and not worry about it, like pretty much everyone else.

If you're talking about the "Chewbacca noise" on start off when the car's cold, it's not the "thrust bearing" whatever that is, it's the flywheel. Chances are you can drive it till you wear the clutch out and it won't hurt a thing.

Don't worry, be happy.....

Do a search for flywheel noise, or chewbacca noise and you'll see what I mean.

My '03 JCW made this noise too, I drove it 65K miles and the guy who bought it is still driving it.....

 

I wish I could just sell my brain but I doubt if I'd have any takers.....

 

Sell your brain??????

Just go for a drive in your MINI, you'll cheer up in no time!

 

I've put about 40,000 miles on my '03 since the chewbacca sound started, and the clutch works as well as new. Don't worry about the noise the dual mass flywheel makes until you change the clutch. Just drive!

 

Your noise is not a fatal noise.

It's just the typical Chewbacca noise.

Folks have driven their cars for thousands and thousands of miles with that noise. And it only happens on cold/cool damp mornings and only in 1st gear maybe.

If you're a good negotiator take it to your nearest MINI dealer and see what they can do for you. You're not that far out of warranty miles wise and perhaps time wise as well. Maybe they can hook you up with a replacement clutch as customer goodwill.

And yes, it does happen.

IMO the '06 MCS is the best MINI made out of both generations.

Drive it and enjoy it.

...Les

 

Actually, my 4 year warranty doesn't expire till end of March. I didn't think something related to the clutch would be covered. Oh yeah, I'm not much of a negotiator. Thanks very much for the reply.

 

Does anyone have a Youtube of this chewiebacca noise? Just curious as to what it sounds like....

 

I've seen one. I'll post if I can find it again.

 

This is exactly the noise mine makes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlHfCtx3peM

 

Yep, that's the sound mine made too.....

Mine mostly only did it on the first engagement out of the drive, just like in the vid. Once in a great while it would do it after the car was warmed up. It doesn't hurt anything, and nothing's going to fail because of it, it's just an annoyance....

 

Not important....